Replies to post #13491 on The Question and Answer Board (IHUB)

[Hoss C]

What's more scary is that you are talking about as recently as barely more than 6-7 years ago. I can remember teaching myself how to use a computer around 94-95, and part of that was learning how to find BBS's in my area, figure out how to get on, post, etc. I also remember that much of what I did in those days was play these silly online trivia games, which gave me tons of credits for something that I don't even remember now. Maybe it was for more online time, or download credits? Who knows?? ProComm and Bitstream were my first comm programs. And when I finally was able to upgrade to a 14.4K modem, it seemed like I was in heaven!! Amazing..

The public library system had the first free system that people could use from home, (started with an S...and ended with "net"). I wish I could remember it's name.

It sucks to get old, I can't remember anything anymore, unless it's more than 30 years ago. :)

[SagDec15]

The first modem I used was an acoustic coupler. That was when all phones, except trimline (which was relative new and not widely used), had the identical handset that fit neatly and cleanly into your 110 or 300 baud coupler.

The best program and attachment I ever got for my C=64 was the AE-1 program and adaptor for my ham radio. Morse wasn't my cup of tea, but I could type 70-100 wpm back then, and morse out anywhere from 3 wpm to 90 wpm morse. I can even remember my CQ to Montana at 60 wpm. He was a general, I was a novice and he just couldn't understand how I was doing a perfect 60 wpm, and was understanding everything he was keying. He didn't own a computer, just ham and keys (on rye :), so using a computer to transmit and receive morse wasn't even a remote thought for him. He sure was impressed.

Everything just got too commercialized. I liked when people used to share .jpgs, no strings attached. Now I delete hundreds of those offerings a day in email. Never thought my email have more junk mail than anything else.

I liked it much better before the masses piled on. Took me years to realize the people I was meeting knew nothing more than the AOL phone number. I remember while on Prodigy a bunch of people were pissed over the censorship and they were moving to this brand new system that was more tolerant... called America Online. Was a real POS back then.